Israeli TV says photo of Khamenei’s body shown to Trump, Netanyahu; cheers heard on Tehran streets

Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - File Photo

Israeli TV reported a photo of Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei’s body was shown to Trump and Netanyahu after US-Israeli strikes. Tehran has not confirmed his death, while Iranian officials deny the reports. Celebrations erupted in Tehran amid uncertainty.

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Two Israeli television networks on Saturday reported that a photograph of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s body had been shown to US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even as Tehran has not confirmed his death.

“A photo of the body was shown to Netanyahu and Trump,” Channel 12 reported.

Public broadcaster Kan also cited senior Israeli officials as saying Khamenei had been killed in the joint US Israeli strikes. “Senior Israeli officials were informed of Khamenei's elimination. His body was recovered from the rubble of his compound,” Kan reported.

There has been no confirmation from Iranian authorities regarding Khamenei’s fate.

News agency AFP quotes witnesses in Tehran saying that loud cheers echoed across parts of the capital late Saturday, with residents taking to their windows to applaud and play celebratory music after reports of the Supreme Leader’s death began circulating. The celebrations began shortly after 11 pm local time, according to multiple witnesses and audio recordings.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were indications that Khamenei may have been killed in a strike on his compound during the ongoing US Israeli operation.

In a televised statement, Netanyahu described the attack as a decisive blow delivered in the heart of Tehran.

"This morning, in a powerful surprise strike, the compound of the tyrant Ali Khamenei was destroyed in the heart of Tehran... and there are many signs that this tyrant is no longer alive," Netanyahu said.

The Israeli prime minister added that senior officials in the Islamic republic had been killed and warned of further attacks.

"This morning we eliminated senior figures in the ayatollahs' regime -- commanders in the Revolutionary Guards and senior officials in the nuclear programme -- and we will continue," Netanyahu said.

"In the coming days, we will strike thousands of targets of the terror regime," he added.

His remarks followed reports that 30 bombs were dropped on Khamenei’s compound. Channel 12 journalist Amit Segal, who is considered close to Netanyahu, said, "Thirty bombs were dropped on the complex. Ali Khamenei was underground, but probably not in his own bunker," without citing a source.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had earlier dismissed reports of Khamenei’s death as false and described them as psychological warfare, according to NDTV. He said Khamenei was alive and accused adversaries of attempting to destabilise Iran at a critical moment.

The uncertainty over Khamenei’s status comes amid reports that members of his family were killed in the same wave of strikes. A member of the Tehran City Council said Khamenei’s son-in-law and daughter-in-law had died in the attack, Reuters reported citing Iran’s Young Journalists Club.